When: February 9, 2024, 9am until 2:30pm

Where: Josselyn Center in Northbrook.

What: Learn how to understand, recognize, and respond to someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training focusing on the importance of early intervention. The curriculum teaches you tools to recognize mental health challenges, listen, and lead tough conversations, as well as how and when to refer someone to appropriate professional help.

Josselyn envisions a world in which Mental Health First Aid is as common as CPR.

Mental Health First Aid is an in-person, full day training with two hours of pre work sent to participants ahead of time.

TrueNorth will be covering the cost of participation for registrants. Registration will close February 2, 2024 with a max of 30 participants so sign up now!

Please make every effort to attend once registered. If your availability changes, please email nmagesis@truenorth804.org

SCHEDULE

CLINIC TIME

Saturdays from 4:00–5:30 pm

CLINIC DATES

Winter/Spring Session

January

27

February

3, 10, 17, 24

March

2, 9, 16

April

6, 20

LOCATION

Combe Tennis Center

2311 Campus Dr, Evanston, IL 60208. (at Northwestern University)

CONTACT INFORMATION

NWChicagoTennis@buforlife.org

For questions or further inquires, please contact your local coordinator via email.

Session Cost*: $185/10 week session

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Please contact your location coordinator for information regarding scholarship availability.

This event is specifically designed for anyone who would like to enjoy time at the park without loud music, flashing lights- and to have a lot of fun!

Our touch-friendly nature museum offers a wondrous sensory slime activity for children every weekend. Join us for fun and learning combined!

Join us for the upcoming Parent University Series featuring presentations designed to help our families thrive. Learn more about the education series and find other helpful resources at www.district31.net/parenteducation.

Understanding Talent Development

Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 6 p.m. at Winkelman

Presented by Dr. Susan Corwith

Understanding Assessment in the Framework of Talent Development

Tuesday, February 20, 2024 at 6 p.m. at

Winkelman. Presented by Melissa Hinshaw

Location:

Winkelman Elementary School

1919 Landwehr Road, Glenview IL 60026

Presentation 1: Wednesday February 21, 2024

Government Benefits - SSI/Medicaid/SNAP

Please join us for an informational hour with Founder and President of Oak Wealth Advisors, Mike

Walther. Parents and guardians will receive an introduction to governmental benefits. Who is eligible for benefits? How do you access them? Accessing governmental benefits for food, shelter, health care is financially valuable throughout your loved one’s lifetime. We will discuss Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) which are the primary means-tested benefits the government provides. Handouts and a takeaway checklist will be provided to help you with the next steps. This presentation is beneficial for families who are interested in understanding their benefit options and is essential for families with loved ones who are around the magic age of 18.

Presentation 2: Wednesday April 3, 2024

Optimizing the Use of ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts

Please join us for an informational hour with Founder and President of Oak Wealth Advisors, Mike

Walther. Parents and guardians will receive an introduction to ABLE Accounts and Special Needs Trusts. Learn about the benefits of an Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account, how to apply for this tax-advantaged savings program, and how to evaluate the various account options. There will also be a discussion of Special Needs Trusts. Both account types allow individuals with disabilities to accumulate assets without reducing their eligibility for means-tested disability benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. Handouts and a takeaway checklist will be provided to help you with the next steps. This presentation is beneficial for families whose loved one has a diagnosis and who want to put the essential elements of a special needs plan in place to allow them to maximize their family’s financial resources.

Presentation 3: Wednesday May 1, 2024

Planning for Adulthood and Continuity of Care

Please join us for an informational hour with Founder and President of Oak Wealth Advisors, Mike

Walther. This presentation will focus on planning and decision-making for individuals entering

adulthood. Parents and guardians will learn about Guardianship, Powers of Attorney, Supported Decision Making. Housing, employment, transportation, & other planning challenges will also be discussed. We’ll review the essential need for a care guide or letter of intent that will document your loved one’s wishes, routines, health care needs, strengths, and challenges so that future care givers can be effective at retaining their quality of life. Handouts and a takeaway checklist will be provided to help you with the next steps. This presentation is beneficial for families with a loved one who is in high school or has recently entered adulthood.

One of our favorite programs is back at Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook! Get ready to get messy with shaving cream, paint, kinetic sand, Play-Doh, bubbles, face paint and so much more. This program is geared towards children 3-10 years old and is sensory-friendly. A quiet zone with fidgets and noise cancelling headphones will be available for anyone who needs to take a step away from the mess.

FREE; registration requested.

DATE

February 11, 2024

TIME

1:00pm - 3:00pm

LOCATION

Bernard Weinger JCC

300 Revere Drive, Northbrook, Illinois, 60062, United States

CONTACT

Rena Rosen

rrosen@jccchicago.org

Jewish Disability Awareness, Acceptance & Inclusion Month continues with a virtual adaptive yoga class. Join instructor Melanie Waldman to find your center from the comfort of your own home! Free; registration required.

*Live captioning will be available for this program.

Melanie has been practicing yoga for the past 15+ years, but after her arm was amputated & she was diagnosed with musculoskeletal disease (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome) and had to make a serious shift to her “standard” power yoga practice. Her goal is to make classes as equitable, easeful, and accessible.

DATE

February 11, 2024

TIME

10:00am - 11:00am

REGISTER

FREE

Dear Adults, Families, & Supports,

Please join us to learn more about TotalLink's Social and Educational Programs, Employment Services, intake process, and more. We will have both virtual and in-person opportunities to share and discuss.

If your time allows, we invite both participants and families to attend.

Facilitators:

The Information Sessions will be facilitated by Madison McGinty (Program Director) and Greg Spigelman (Employment Manager).

Information Session Dates & Times:

Option 1 - In-Person

Friday, February 23 from 10:00 - 11:00 am
Location: TotalLink to Community Annex (1200 Shermer Rd., Northbrook)

Option 2 - Virtual (Zoom)

Date: Thursday, March 7 from 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Location: Zoom

If you have any questions, please reach out to Madison McGinty at mmcginty@totallink2.org.

Mark your calendars for a new series geared towards teens and young adults (ages 16-35). Please feel free forward this email to your children or grandchildren, ages 16-35, that may be interested in participating. This 3 part series will include the following classes:

• Class #2 Investment Choices - "What are the Differences?" to be held on 02/13/2024 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm.

• Class #3 Powers of Attorney - to be held on 05/14/2024 from 7:00pm - 8:00pm.

Full class description provided here.

Registration is required. Click here to register for the first class. Each webinar will be recorded and sent to the registrants.

Looking for a warm and cozy place to hang out on a Monday morning, either by yourself or with friends? Come by to enjoy a hot cup of coffee and fresh scone while you support TrueNorth Transition students demonstrate their amazing job readiness skills at this job training site. We're open for business every Monday that school is in session, from 9-11 am. Curt's Cafe is located at 1766 2nd Street in Highland Park.

Click here for brochure

For example, dentists or doctors available to families.

Several times each month, our mobile pantry visits 6 locations to distribute free diapers (babies, toddlers and adults) and period supplies to families who are struggling to afford them. ONLINE REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED 24 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR FIRST VISIT TO A DISTRIBUTION DAY and must be completed using the form below.

Identification for the parent/guardian and child(ren) is required.

Diapers are provided for children up to age 3. Pull-ups are provided for children up to age 4.

Incontinence products are provided for seniors and disabled adults (65 years old and up). Individuals from 4 - 64 years old can receive products with a doctor's note/diagnosis.

WAUKEGAN (10am - 12pm)

Lake County Health Department

2400 Belvidere Rd. Waukegan, IL 60085

January 17, February 21, March 20, April 17, May 15, June 19, July 24, August 21, September 18, October 16, November 20, December 18

HIGHWOOD (3:30pm - 5:00pm)

Fort Sheridan Metra Station

461 W. Old Elm, Highwood, IL 60040

February 2 & 16, ADDITIONAL DATES TO BE ADDED

Winnetka Voices is a podcast hosted by The Winnetka Public Schools, featuring candid conversations on issues relevant to education and shared resources to support our students and families.

Listen Here

Haven Youth and Family Services is offering a virtual group for parents of school-age kids beginning January 9th.

More info

Questions?

Email: ali@havenforyouth.org

Register

This month's hang-out will be at 7:00pm at Spears in Wheeling.

Email: hello@cityofsupport.org with any questions or to sign up for email alerts. No RSVP required.

Are your child's mental health struggles impacting you and your family? Are you wondering how to start finding help?

We recommend seeking support for yourself first with a CATCH Conversation.

Sign up and a CATCH volunteer will reach out to schedule a time to talk, meet for a cup of coffee, or go for a walk to give you a chance to share what's going on and learn how CATCH can support you.

Sign Up Here

Join us for information, resources, tips and strategies on a variety of topics to empower you in your parenting or caregiving journey with your child with autism. Come to connect and interact with others navigating a similar journey! Parents of newly diagnosed children are strongly encouraged to attend.

Lurie Children's Sound Experience is a social experience for families of children with hearing loss. We offer Sound Experience four Saturday afternoons throughout the school year at our Outpatient Center in Westchester.

The program aims to provide:

• A network of parents of children with hearing loss who are going through or have gone through similar situations and to share experiences and information
• Information for families about hearing loss and how it affects our children
• An opportunity for children with hearing loss to meet other children with hearing loss

What to Expect at Sound Experience

• Parents informally share information and stories before the formal breakout sessions
• Children and siblings of all ages are entertained with a dedicated staff of volunteers
• Parents meet in an adjoining room to discuss the meeting’s topic

How to Get Involved

To learn more about Sound Experience, ask your audiologist or contact Cara Donahue at 312.227.3061 or cdonahue@luriechildrens.org.

APH FamilyConnect and The Chicago Lighthouse are pleased to offer this virtual support group for parents and families of children who are blind or visually impaired. These monthly sessions are for families to connect with and learn from each other about the joys, challenges, and adventures of raising children with visual impairments and blindness. These sessions are open to families. You only need to register once for this ongoing series. The No ACVREP or professional development credits will not be available.

Register Here

The Association of Parents and Staff (APS) is an organization of parents who have children in any of TrueNorth's 18 member school districts, and the staff who serve them. Our mission is to make a difference in the lives of our children with disabilities through advocacy, partnership and support. Together with our staff partners, we hope to heighten awareness and understanding of learning differences, provide ongoing training and education, and offer support and connections to all.

Whether children are enrolled in a TrueNorth instructional classroom or receive services through their local school district, all parents of children with learning differences are welcome.

If you would like to connect with your district representative or have questions for our Parent Engagement Facilitator, Nicole Magesis, please email us at apsnewsletter@truenorth804.org